Cotton-picker.



L. C. STUKENBORG.

comm PICKER. APPLICATION FILED APR-2|. 1911.

1,264,575. Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. C. STUKENBOBG.

canon PICKER.

1,264,575. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 2h 19!?- Patented Apr. 30'

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Jill/676 Z071". Iouz's C uitenZvorg L; C. STUKENBOBG. canon PICKER.

1 264, 75. APPLICATION HLED APR. 21. m

Patented Apr. 30, 1918 3 SHEET5-SHEET 3.

In 1/6 nio r: 5 louzh Cfii'uire w I vnone a citizen of the v and State UNITED sIATEs PAFENT omen.

moms cannon. srvmnone, or cnroneo. rumors, micron or onn-mr r0 p o I I MDIBIOIJV. BTUKENBQBG,

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Toall'tokomz'tma concern: Be'it known that I Louis C. Sruxnm ilnited S and a resi ent of Chicago, in the county of Cook of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton- Pickers; and I do hereby declare that the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying wings and to the character of reference marked t ereon, which form a part of this specification.

is invention relates to improvements in cotton pickers and refers more elderly to that general .type of cotton picker In prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 1131804, dated March 16, 1915.

The resent invention relates to novel means on picking or removing the cotton from the bolls, and .the purpose of the invention is to produce a'mechanism constructed and arranged to remove the cotton without breaking the fibers and arranged fibers to open th and produce more lint cotton per bale of seedl cotton, and a. better and a cleaner linter e. A? further object of the invention, achieved by the manner of picking and conveying the arge percentage of mpa the seed cotton for the 'n to pr uce a t ter lint staple and drier s ed.

. rther purpose of the invention is to a construction of cotton picker m M mwhich prevents the can-y n the bur backwardly with the cotton, an to provide a lgl-uard in front of the picking moans whic will reject or kick out'the bur after the cotton has been pulled therefrom.

ther objectsof the invention are to improve and simplify cotton pickers, and the Specification of Letters Patent.

picker head.

shown I and to Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

Application fled April :1, 1m. sci-nu Ia. mam.

invention consists inthe combination arrangement of the elements shown in the an is pointed out in the appended claims. In the swings;

1 is a side elevation ofa cotton picker machine emb Fig. 2 is a plan broken away.

Fig. 3 is an odying my invention. view thereof, with parts enlarged side elevation of the Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the head. Fig. 6 is a lo 'tudinal vertical section of one form of the end.

Fig 7 is a plan view thereof with a portion of the casm removed."

As shown in as awhole, the frame of the machine which is rectangular at its rear end and is tape toward its forward end the tapered up r and l by short transverse portions 12. e rectangular portion 13 of the frame is made of a dimension frame as herein shown is made of skeleton fla ed frame members between which is stretched wire netting, but may be otherwise constructed.

The frame is en ported on'two wheels 18 which are rotative machine as herein shown ma be drawn forwardly by one or more handles 20 that are attached to the forward narrow end of the machine frame and the ward portion of the machine .frame, when the machine is stationary is borne by one or more legs 21 of any suitable design. A

25 designates a receiving receptacle to which the cotton is conveyed from the picker head. The skeleton frame of this race tacle is made of flanged bars 26 between which'is e drawings, 10 designates,

ification,

weight of the forstretched wire netting 27; and one of the sides of the rece tacle may be left open or maybe provide with any suitable door as desired. The receptacle is shown as so ported on the upper rear member '28 of t e wheeled f 'flwy meansv of hooks29 in the manner shown, 11 Figs. 1 and 2.

35 designates the picker head in which is mounted the active elements that pick the cotton fiber from the bolls. Said head is connected to the outer or free end of a con- Located in rear of and opposite to the veying tube 36, preferably made of flexible meeting faces of the brushes 1s a take-01f or material so that the headma be directed in transfer device which is so constructed and all directions, and saidtube is carried backarranged as to positively remove the cotton 5 wardly to a suction fan37 that is en ported from the brushes as the proximate sides of 70 on the top of the wheeled frame. 1&6 tube the brushes are rotated rearwardly. Said 36, as herein shown, is carried to the center take-off device is constructed to merely reof said fan and the eduction side of the fan I move the -cotton from the brushes, there beis connected by a pipe or thorou hfare 38 ing suitable conveying means in rearthereof to the receiving receptacle 25. e fan is to receive cotton so removed and to carry it 75 driven by means of a belt or other suitable backwardly through the tube 36 into the transmission device 40 from a pulley 41 of receptacle 25. The take-off or transfer dethe engine or motor shaft. This fan is of vice shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, 18 made as special construction, producing the required follows suction to draw the cotton through the flexi- 60 designates a s aft which is fixed in any so ble tube and at the same time-avoidclogsuitable manner, as by a cross pin, in an ging of the cotton fiber in the fan structure. elongated bearing 61 of the cover member .he tube 36 is an ported, forwardly beyond of the head and is disposed at a right angle the fan, by a brac et 42 which rises from the to the axes of the brush shafts. 62 desi 20 machine r cient length to extend a considerable disor loosely mounted on said shaft. Said tanee forwardly of the machine and from shaft is rovlded at one end with an ecceneach side thereof so that the one machine rlohea 63 between which and inner endof maty serve two or more rows of cotton plants. the elong ted bearlng 61 the sleeve 62 is conf desired, a single fan blower may be fined. 4 d sl at s a lurality of pointed 90 nect d, through a plurality of such tub pins or spurs w ich are xed in an suitable with a pluralit of picker heads, so that a, manner to said sleeve and exten radially central plant 0 SllfilClBIlt ca acity located on therefrom 1n angularly s aced rows that one machine ay be utilize for furnishing travel 111 contact with the rushes and ar- 80 the power to operate a number of heads an allel to the planes of the axes of the brus cs. '95 thereby increase the capacity of the machine. 65 designates a shell which surrounds th The picker head is of special construction sleeve 62 and is provided at one end, remote and this construction is learly illustrated in i from the elongated bearin 61, with an in- Figs. 3 to 7, which show the picker head tegral bearlng stud. 66. aid stud is rotaapart from the remainder of the cotton tlvely mounted in asuitablebeari bushing 10o h t 67 that IS seated inan opening in t e bottom Refer-rim to. the icker head mechanism wall of the picker head casing. The axis of shown in igs. 3 to inclusive, said h rotation of said stud of the shell 65 is ecnism embraces the following operativgly centric to the axis of rotation of the sleeve 40 combined elements :-45, esi ate tw 62, and the end wall 68 of said shell is pro- 105 brushes which are fixed to shafts 6, 46 that vided with a recess to receive the enlarged are rotatively mounted in suitable bearings head 63 of the shaft 60, said head of the 47 at the side walls 48 48 of the picker head Shaft ilif r tatively mounted in the recasing. The shafts of said brus es are parcessed she T 45 allel, and the bristles 50 are of such length The said shell is provided with a pluas to interact at their meeting ends.- he rality of apertures through which extend brushes are rotated in'oppositedirections, as theradial pins 64, and b reas n of the ecindicated by the arrows, in a way to carry centricity of the axes of the shell and sleeve, the cotton rearwardly. The brushes are the said pins extend at various distances :50 located in an enlarged portion 51 of the casfrom the outer face of, the shell in different in which is open at its forward side to proparts of the circumference of the shell. vi e a mouth '52. The casing is reduced With this construction it will be observed rearwardly of the brush inclosing enlarged that when the shell is rotated itacts, throu h front end to provide a neck portion 54 which the connection of the pins therewith, to a so 55 is suitabl connected to and communicates rotate the sleeve 62 and, by referring to with the xible tube 36. Conveniently the Fi 6 and 7 it will be observed that the upper, side of the casing is removable to conaxis of rotation of the sleeve 62 is ofiset tostitute a cover member 55 (Fig. 3) that is ward the-brushes relatively to the axis of fixed in place by means suitably located rotation 'of the shell 65 so, that when the pins 60 overlapping in '56 on the cover member are presented-toward the hrnshesthey exand the main ody of the head to receive tend a distance from the shell intothe brisattaching bolts. 57. Removal of the cover ties of the brushes in positi0n"to dislodge member ermits free access to the brushes or remove the cotton from the brushes, and

and to.o t er parts of the mechanism hereinthat as the shell and dpins rotate rearwardly 65' after dese bed. from the brushessai pins retreat or disapame. The tube is made of sufiinates a sleeve or bushing which is rotative y 85 pear into the shell to such an extent that on the side of the shell remote from the brushes the pins have entirely-disappeared. Thus cotton is released from the pins so as to. permit the cotton to. be removed by a suit-' able conveyer in rear thereof, one form of which conveyer will be hereinafter de- 'iii d a y a e sai rotatin isappear' pins an the brushes may be operated in aiiy suitable manner to produce the results described. As herein shown the driving connections for pperating said members are made as folowsz- 69 designates a flexible drivin shaft which is rotatively mounted in a aring 69, carried by the flexible tube 36 near the picker head. Said flexible shaft is connected to a rigid shaft 70 .that is mounted in suitable bearings 71, 71 carried by and rising from the machine frame. Between said bearin a pulley 72 is fixed to said shaft which is driven by a belt trained about pulley 73 on the power shaft of the en no ad jacent to the fly wheel 74 thereof. he forward end of said flexible shaft is connected.

to a rigid shaft section 76 (Fig. 6) that is "mounted in a suitable bearin 77 carried by picker head casing. Said shaft 76 is,

the provided with a beveled car 78 which meshes with a beveled gear 9 that is fixed to a shaft 80 which extends transversely across the casing and is mounted in suit able bearin 81, 81 carried by the side walls of sai casing near the bottom thereof. Said beveled gear 7 9 meshes with a beveled gear 83 which is fixed to or is made integral with the bearing stud 66 of the shell 65, whereby said shell is rotated. One end of said shaft 80 is provided with a spur gear 85 (Fig. 3) which meshes with a spur ear 86 that is fixed to the shaft 46 of one o the rotary brushes, and the s ur gear 86 meshes with a third s ur gear 8? which is fixed to the shaft 46 0? the other rotar brush 45. The arrow in Fig. 3 indicates t e direction of rotation of the several spur gears.

The gearing described is such that the proximate sides of the brushes are rotated in reverse directions and rearwardly, and carry the cotton dislodged thereby from the bolls into the sphere of action of the take-01f or transfer device consistingof the series of rotating disappearing pins, said transfer device carrying the cotton into the sphere of action of theconveyer of whatev eirhtype may be employed.

prises as an element thereof the suction fan- 37 before referred to. a

In order to employ the suction of said fan to convey the cotton from the rotary transfer device ba'ckwardly through the flexible tube 36 without drawing objectionable exforward articular type pf conveyor herein shown is a pneumatic conveyer, which com or bent inwardly toward said free ends of the guards constitute stops low pressure area within the head immedi-- ately in rear of the transfer device and in a region of comparatively still or non-flowing air, such as will dislodge the cotton fiber from the transfer device and pass the same on of movin air backwardly into the it beor in rear of the induction openin ing apparent that the region wlthin the picker ead in rear of in potion openings is subject to a moving blast rather than a relatively non-flowi area such as exists y of said in uction openings. The state of pressure in this low ressure area in comfeotion with the centri ugal action of the take-ofl" device is suflicient to dislodge or remove the cotton from the transfer or takeoflr' device. Therefore there is rovided a pneumatic conveyor which is sufiibientl active to carry the-cotton backwardiy rom the head and through the flexible tube 36 and into the receptacle 25, but which does not draw into the head solid articles, such as broken arts of the cotton ms or twi or leaves 0 the cotton plant. Therefore t e cotton is free from such objectionable. extraneous materials and is in condition for eflicient ginning.

In order to prevent the brushes themselves drawing into the head broken particles of burs, twigs or leaves, suitable ards may be interposed between the brus e s and the open mouth of thehead. As herein shown such guards, designated by 92, of which there are a number springing from both the upper and lower walls of the casin ,are each made of a single piece of wire 1; at is bent in general U-form and extends through sets thereof so as to provide space between the upper and lower sets to facilitate the en trance of the cotton to the head when drawn thereinto by the brushes. Obviously any other form of guard suitable for the urpose may-be employed. One arm of eac of said guards 92 is made longer than the other arm to extend through the casing walls for suitable attachment to the anchor bars 93. The other ends of the U-shapedguards92 are so sfigced relatively to the topand bottom we of the picker head casing as to engage said walls when the ards are flexed 5i; brushes, and

Said guar s to prevent the guards being pushed against the cores of the brushes which would effect a brake action against the rotation of said brushes. The said guards are made of any suitable resilient material, such as spring steel and yield inwardly toward the brushes by the application of the force of the rapidly rotating brushes, which pulls the cotton from the bolls and draws the cotton into the head between the proximate ends of the two sets of guards. The resilienc of said guards serves, when the cotton 1S released cm the bolls, to spring the guards outwardly in a manner to throw ofl" or reject the bolls and thereby serve as a further means of preventing the bolls or parts thereof assing into the head. The springing o the guards inwardly by the action described serves to expose greater lengths of the bristles of the brushes which pass between the guards so that said brushes may more effectively engage the cotton. Moreover, when the guards are thus swung inwardly about their points. of attachment to the casing walls, the inner or proximate ends of the ards are separated a greater distance than in the normal position of the guards, so as to somewhat increase the throat opening through which the cotton passes into the head.

It will be obvious that the transfer or take-01f device, consisting in general terms of a movable element placed in rear of the brushes, which directly pick the cotton from the burs, coact with the bristles of the brushes to transfer the cotton from the brushes to the sphere of action of a conve er device. So far as the transfer or takeofl device of the invention is concerned the conveying device may be otherwise constructed and arranged so long as the cotton is conveyed rearwardly with no substantial compressing or matting of the staple. The pneumatic conveyer herein shown, however, and arranged in the manner described is advantageous inasmuch as it avoids the liability of drawing into and thrbugh the picker head extraneous substances which would be objectionable in the cotton staple and which at the same time provides for an eflicient transfer of the cotton from the picking brushes to the conveyer. The disappearing type of take-ofi' device is advantageous in that it serves to strip the cotton fibers from the icker business, and to deliver it efficient y to the sphere of action of the moving current of air in the conveyer tube.

It will be noted that the brushes most closely approach each other and interact to draw the'cotton rearwardly into the head in a plane coincident with the center of the head and of the neck andthat the take-ofl' or transfer device is located centrally in the head and rotates about an axis which is transverse to (at right angles as shown herein) the axis of rotation of the brushes, and that said take-ofi' device wipes through the bristles of the brushes at the meeting sides thereof throu hout practically the entire length of the rushes, as will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. 6 and 7. Therefore the path of the cotton through the head and backwardly into the influence of the moving column of air in rear of the induction openings 90 in the head is a straight path and located centrally of the head so that the cotton is carried into the head with a minimum disturbance to the cotton fibers in the way of rubbing them upon themselves and against the walls of the passageway into the head. The effect of this construction is, first, that the machine may run at a high rate of speed and the picker mechanism of the head will not become clogged and, second, the fiber of the cotton is disturbed to a small extent and is not compacted or intertwined.

It may be here noted that the brushes act on the cotton while pullin the cotton from the bur in the manner 0 a comb both by reason of the fact that the bristles of the brushes pierce the cotton locks while the cotton is passing between the brushes, and by reason of the fact that the brushes, which are traveling at considerable speed, have movement relatively to the cotton fiber while the fibers are being pulled from the burs,

and this relative movement is dependent somewhat upon the tenacity with which the cotton sticks to the burs. Furthermore, after the cottonis removed from the burs by the brushes the pins of the take-ofi' device effect a further combing action on the cotton by reason of the fact that the take-off device rotates at a higher speed than the brushes, as will be evident from an inspection of the gear ratio of the gears 86, 87, of the brushes and the transmitted to drivethe brushes by mechanism which also drives the take-ofi device. This combing of the cotton thus efl'ected v opens the locks and segregates them and their seeds from each other and has the eflect to loosen the boll dirt and leaf particles from the cotton so that when the cotton is delivered by the take-oil device into the sphere of the moving column of air at the rear of the brushes the boll dirt and leaf particles, being somewhat heavier than the cotton, are discharged from the conveyer in gear 85 through which power is v advance of the cotton and pass directly through the screen-like wall of the basket or receiver while the clean cotton drops to the bottom of said basket or receiver. That portion of the chamber of the casing head containing the take-ofl device is enlarged at its side abreast the'take-oif device to provide ample clearance for the cotton between the take-ofi device and the casing wall and to avoid pressing or matting of the cotton p the cotton is maintained head open at its front and ham 2. rearted for 1y extending hollow neck adap connection to a suction pipe, oppositely rotative,.interacting brushes mounted at the open front of said head and a rotative takeofi device in rear of said brushes arranged centrally of said head and adapted to travel between and in contact with said brushes, said head b brushes with an induction port.

comprising a picker and having a rearwardly extending hollow neck adapted for connection to a suction pipe, oppositely rotative, parallel brushes mounted at the open front of said head, with gitudinal axis of said head and a take-off device in rear of saidbrushes and rotative in contact with the brushes about an axis transverse to the axes of rotation of said brushes, said head being provided in rear of said brushes with an induction port.

35A cotton picker comprisin a picker head open at its front, opposite y rotatlve,

interacting flexible bristle brushes mounted at the open front of said head, a rotative take-ofi device in rear of said brushes and ed to travel between and in contact with the bristles of said brushes, said head being provided in rear of said brushes with an induction port, and two sets of guards mounted on opposite walls of the head and extending toward, but terminating short of each ot er.

4. A cotton picker com head open at its front an havmg a rearwardly extending hollow neck adapted for connection to a. suction pipe, oppositely rotative, interacting brushes mounted at the open front of said he a rotative takeofl device in rear of said rising a picker brushes with an induction port, and two sets of guards in front of the brushes mounted on opposite walls of the head and extending inwardly toward, but terminating short of each other, with means for limiting the movement of the guards toward the brush 5. A cotton picker comprising a picker head having an open mouth, rotating interacting picker ;brushes at said mouth, a take-01f device in contact with the brushes for removing the cotton therefrom, and reemg provided in rear of said' the bristles thereof meeting in a plane coincident with the lonburs from the head wh silient guards at said mouth extending gartiall across said brushes between w oh the [Zaistles of said brushes are adapted to ex 11 6. A cotton picker comprising a picker head having an open mout rotating actin picker brushes at said mouth, a take- .oif device coactmg with the brushes for rethe cotton therefrom, and two sets aped resilient guards mounted on opposite walls of the head in front of the rushes, one member of each guard being to contact with said d 1s sprung toward the es t3 limit the bending movement of uar rush said a picker head hav1ng an open mouth, pic or brushes the brushes and springable toward said brushes and having movement toward said brushes.

9. A cotton picker comprising a picker head having at said mouth, and resilient guards extendacross said mouth and terminating at the opening thereof and normally inclined toward said brushes and springable toward said bristles of said brushes exten 10. A cotton picker comprising a picker head having an open mouth, picker brushes at said mouth, and spring guards anchored to the walls of the head and terminating at the opening to said mouth and springable toward the brushes and acting by their resiliency to reject or throw out the cotton en the cotton is removed therefrom.

11. A cotton picker com head having. an 0 en mout at said mouth, an two sets of s ring guards anchored to opposite walls of e head and terminating at the o ening to said mouth and extending inwar y toward but terminating short of each other, each set of guards extending well beyond the axis of rotation of its associated brush.

12. A cotton picker comp head having tive icker 'brus es at said month between whic and substantially through the action rising a picker guards extendmg partially across said mouth in front of stop means to their rising a picker' picker brushes interan open mouth,.picker brushes brushes and between which the an open mouth, oppositely rotait thereby reject the burs.

of the brushes -alone, the cotton is drawn s set to each other, with means for rotating rearwardly into the head, and resilient t e take-ofi device.

ards extending partially across said mouth 18. In a cotton picker, a picker head pomand springable toward said brushes and rising oppositely rotative,interacting picker 5 adapted to be sprung toward said brushes rushes, a rotative take-off device in rear 70 by the force of the brushes in removing the thereof and engaging the bristles of said cotton from the burs, whereby when the cotbrushes, embracing a series of radial pins, a 1 ton is so removed the resiliency of the ards perforated shell outwardly through which restores them to normal position an they the pins extend, the axes of rotation of the shell and said series of pins being eccentric 75 13. A cotton picker com rising a picker with respect to each ot er and means for head-having an 0 en mout oppositely rorotating the take-0E device. tative picker brus es at said mouth between 19. In a ootton picker, a picker head which, and substantially through the action embracing interacting, oppositely, disposed i the brushes alone, the cotton is drawn picker brushes between which the cotton 15 so rearwardly into the head, resilient guards drawn from the bur, and a take-off device at extendin partially across said mouth and said head coactin with said brushes, emspringab e toward said brushes and ada ted bracing a series 0 pms movable between the to be sprun toward said brushes by the orce brushes in the direction of their length, and

of the brus es in removing the cotton from embracing also stripping means to strip the 35 the bars, whereby when the cotton is so re-, cotton from said pins. A

moved the resiliency of the ards restores 20. In a cotton picker, a picker head emthem to normal position an they thereby bracing interacting rotative picker brushes, reject the burs, and stop means to limit the "and a takeofi device acting against the movement of the guards toward said brushes. brushes comprising a rotative annular mem- 9o \r 14. A cotton picker com rising a icker ber, combined with a series of pins rotative head having an open mout opposite y roon an axis eccentric to the ax1s of rotation fative picker brushes at said mouth between of said member, whereby said pins are prowhich, and substantially through the action jected from and disappear into said member of the brushes alone, the cotton is drawn in the rotation of the latter. as

- rearwardly into the head, resilient ards 21. A cotton picker, comprising a picker extendin partially across said mout and head having an open mouth, rotative picker springab e toward said brushes and ada ted brushes at said mouth, a shaft in rear of said toliesprun toward saidbrushes by the orce brushes, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, a

of the brus es in removing the cotton from series of radial ins carried by the sleeve in 100 with the brushes to remove the cotton therewhich said pins exten the burs whereby when the cotton is so recontact with sai brushes, and a shell mount- -moved the resiliency of the ards restores ed to rotate in the casing on an axis eccenthem to normal osition and t ey thereby retric to and inclosing the axis of said sleeve ject the burs, an take-ofi' means coiiperating and provided with perforations through 105 from, the head bein provided in rear of the 22. A cotton picker, comprising a picker brushes with an in uction port. head having an open mouth rotative picker 15. In a cotton picker, a picker head combrushes at said mouth, a shai't in rear of said prising interacting, oppositely rotative brushes, a sleeve mounted on said shaft, V picker brushes, a rotative take-01f device in a series of radial pins carried by the sleeve iio contact with said brushes embracing a series in contact with said brushes, a shell mounted of pins to travel between the brushes length to rotate in the casing on an axis eccentric to wise of the latter, said device embraoin also and inclosing the axis of said sleeve and promeans operative through rotation o the vided with perforations throu h which said device to strip the cotton therefrom. pins extend, aring operative y con 16. In a cotton picker, a picker head coinsaid shell to t e brushes, a drivin shaft, an prising oppositel rotative picker brushes, a gearing connecting the driving s aft to said rotative take-o device in rear of said shell. brushes embracing a series of radial pins 28. In a cotton picker, a picker head com- 55 movable in contact with and between the prising picker means and a take-oi! means, brushes in a direction lengthwise thereof, the latter embracing a series of radial, rotaand eccentric means operative through rotative pins coasting with the brushes and stription of the pins to strip the cotton therefrom. pinfilzieans operative through the rotation In a cotton picker, a picker head comof t pins to strip the cotton therefrom,

to prising rotative, interacting .picker brushes, combined with a conve or means to convey a talre-ofl deyice in contact therewith, emthe cotton from the ic er mea bracing a series of radial pins, a perforated 24. In a cotton pic er, a picker head comshell outwardly through which the pins exrising picker means, a rotative take-ofi dotend, the axes of rotation of the shell and vicein rear'tliereof and contactin therewith 65 said series of pins being e ntric with re comprising a series of radial pins, a shell 13o inclosing the pins and perforated to permit the pins to extend therethrough, the axis of rotation of said shell being eccentric to the xis of rotation of the pins and means to rotate the shell.

25. In a cotton picker, 9. picker head comprisin picker means, a take-off device in rear tiereof and coacting therewith comprising a fixed shaft, a sleeve thereon, a series of radial pins carried by the sleeve, a shell surrounding said sleeve and perforated to ermit the pins to pass therethrough, said she being rotatively mounted in the casing on an axis eccentric to the axis of rotation of said sleeve, and means to rotate said shell.

26. In a cotton picker, interacting, rotative picker brushes, a plurality of take-ofi teeth movable to contact with and away from the brushes in the direction of the length of the brushes, a perforated stripping element and means to alternately pro ect said teeth from and withdraw them into said stripping element.

'27. A cotton picker comprising a picker head havingan open mouth and a rearwardly extending neck for connection to a suction pipe, oppositely rotative interacting brushes at said mouth and a rotative takeofi device in rear of said brushes and coacting therewith, said head being interiorly enlarged abreast the take-ofl' device beyond the width of the mouth to rovide ample space between the same and t e wall of the device to void compression of the cotton as it is carried rearwardly by the take-ofi device.

28. A cotton picker comprising a picker head having an open mouth and a rearwardly extending neck for connection to a suction pipe, oppositely rotative interacting brushes at the mouth of the head and a rotative take-off device in rear of and coacting 'conveyer being proportioned with said brushes, said head being interiorly enlarged abreast the take-off device to provide ample space between the same and the locks and to se regate them and their individualseeds an adhering cotton from each other to produce a fluflt'y seed cotton, and a pneumatic conveyer to carry the cotton rearwardly from the head, constructed with means in rear of said picker mechanisms to receive air, said head and conveyer being proportioned to avoid compression of the cotton.

30. A cotton picker omprising a head, movable interacting picker elements therein, by the movement of which the cotton is drawn rearwardly between said elements from the bur into the head to effect a combing and loosening of the cotton, means to remove the cotton from the picker elements constructed with means to further comb and loosen the cotton, and a pneumatic conveyer to carry the cotton rearwardly from the head, constructed with means in rear of said picker elements to receive air, said head and to avoid compression of the cotton.

In witness whereof I claim the foregoing as my invention, I hereunto append my signature in the presence of two witnesses at Chic go, Illinois, this 18 day of April, 1917.

LOUIS CARROLL STUKENBORG. Witnesses:

W. L. HALL, A. E, WALBRIDGE. 

